Acknowledgements

As I release bits of my thesis here, I thought I would put up the acknowledgements page, and while this doesn't remotely cover everyone who made my run at an MFA possible I thought it would be good to put it up in a place people might actually read it.

Acknowledgements

I would like to deeply thank the University of California in Santa Barbara’s Department of Art, for selecting me as a candidate in their Master of Fine Arts program. I will treasure the time I have spent on the campus and in the studios for the rest of my life. I am grateful to the faculty and staff for their generosity and willingness to exchange knowledge and conversation. I am particularly grateful to the following: Diego, Michael, Ken, Trela, Carol, Yumi, Joel, Troy, and Fire Marshall Joe.

I would also like to make an effort to extend my never ending gratitude to my peers in the program, including but not limited to: Nikki, Katy, Daniela, Shane, Karen, Bessie, Tim, Raffi, Julian, and Napoleon.
During my time at UCSB I taught some very committed and talented students, they should know I learned more from them than they did from me. I can not communicate the joy I took in being your instructor.

My faculty are kind and forgiving and I aspire to their professionalism, particularly, Colin, Richard, Jane, Laurel, Harry, Dick, Graham, Gary, Kim, Bob, and Terrence.

I wish also to pay gratitude to the friends in and outside the department, Nick, Courtney, Bill, Jenny, and anyone else whom I forced to read this paper.
It should also be noted that my family made this possible and I am totally and completely in love with them for helping me be what I have always wanted to be, an artist. Mom, Kelly, Abby, and their families, I will never be able to give you what you have given me, but I will try for the rest of my life.

Samantha Fretwell is one of the finest artists I have ever had the privilege to work next to, she made me a better artist and I know in my core what I owe her.

Especially important was all of the people who I just don't have room to name, people who in minor moments kept me together and on track, people who reached out when I needed them most, if you are reading this now, you can count yourself among the loved ones. Know that if I missed you it would be in your interest to take me to lunch and make me feel guilty about it, I can't wait to see you and I am buying.

Lastly I risked all of this because one man taught me how to risk, how to work harder than the rest, how to show up and finish the job, even when you don’t want to, even when you don’t think you can, finishing the job and getting on to the next job. Merlin Hawkins was big for his age, and I hope this makes him proud, because despite this degree, my greatest honor has always been being the big man’s grandson. Thank you doesn’t cut it, but you get the idea

Comments

  1. I am very proud of you, Patrick. The last paragraph about Papa made me cry. I am thrilled that you are the accomplished artist that you always dreamed of being. May you have a very fulfilled life with all the joy it may bring.

    Cheers,
    Amy Carter

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